The Reality of Iraq 2

I spoke with Brennen just a few minutes ago from Iraq.  He wanted to express his appreciation for all those who prayed for him and the family of his friend Hussam. 

Hussam is in heaven now.  He was a born again believer in Jesus Christ.  His hope in Jesus gives us hope as well.  We will all get the chance to meet Hussam one day, some day soon.

The Reality of Iraq

Many of you know my dear friend Brenen from Louisville.  Brennen and I have been close friends since our college days back at Campbellsville University. 

He is now employed as a business consultant in Baghdad, Iraq.  He trains and educates Iraqi business men, helping them find business contacts in the US and preparing them for future success in global commerce. 

This past week one of Brennen’s former students, and a personal friend, was killed in a suicide bombing. 

The reality of the Iraq War usually stands at a distance until someone connected to you or connected to someone you know dies.  Here was a young man, seeking education and training for a better life, trying to make a name for himself and get ahead in the business world and now he is dead and the future hope of his life is over.

This is the true reality of war.

Small Groupings

Last Friday, I got a chance to hear Rick Howerton, from Serendipity House Publishers, talk about the small group ministry paradigm.  Here are some key thoughts for those leading/starting a small group ministry.

Types of small groups:
1.  Disciple-making groups – believers wanting to develop
2. Community groups – believers and non-believers wanting to grow relationships
3. Service-oriented groups – believers and non-believers wanting to service in the community
4. Seeker groups – led by believers for non-believers to seek answers 
5. Support groups – believers and non-believers working through personal difficulties
6. Healing groups – believers and non-believers in an environment of support toward personal healing

Pick the group format that best meets the needs and direction of the church.  Don’t try and be something that you are not.

Relational Discipleship vs. Propositional Discipleship

• Relational discipleship is conversationally-driven, usually outside of the church walls, facilitated by a prepared leader, but not dominated, equal time in discussion and Bible exploration.
• Propositional discipleship is a dialogue, but teacher does most talking, happens within the walls of church, follows a curriculum, teacher prepares and leads the discussion, Bible exposition is majority, discussion and activities supports exposition.

Small group ministry demands relational discipleship. 

Historical entry points into the Church:

• Church-sponsored programs – 1950′s Golden era
• Evangelism, witnessing, crusades, revivals – late 1950′s – 1960′s  Billy Graham era
• Sunday school programs, bus ministry, outdoor Bible clubs – 1970′s Sunday School era
• Worship services, worship styles and contemporary music – 1980′s – 1990′s Mega-church era
• Missional outreach, community involvement, social needs met – 2000′s Missional era

Small groups might serve as the bridge between community involvement, building relationships, and biblical exploration.

The Tragedy of Political Correctness

After watching the convocation service at Virginia Tech (www.vt.edu) yesterday, I am still in shock over this terrible massacre.  I pray for the families of those students and professors lost.

But as a conservative, evangelical Christian, what bothered me just as much was the attempt by the convocation planning people to make the service perfectly PC.  Very little mention of spiritual things.  Mandatory representation by ministers/clerics/rabbis, each expressing their remorse and sadness but with little significant comfort provided. 

Even G. W. Bush, who claims to be born-again believer, misquoted the Scripture and nearly left God completely out of his remarks.

Was this not a time to share true comfort that comes only from the Scripture?  Was this not a time to speak of eternal things?  The promise of another life?  The hope of heaven?  I understand not making a memorial service a political and spiritual platform, but what better time to speak of eternal things when so many families were thinking just that.

Thanks for the Support

We appreciate everyone who has written or called over the last 24 hours.  It is great to know we are loved by so many friends and family members. 

(This picture was taken a year ago.  We got to get some new pics of the family.)

For all my peeps…

Thanks for linking to my blog.  Please place it on your fav’s.  There will be news on the new baby very soon.

That is right.  Jennifer and I are pregnant.  She is 10 weeks along.  I believe it is another boy.  We will be finding out the sex this time around.   So far the pregnancy is going well.  Jennifer has been way more sick this time with the gagging and occasional spewing. 

The due date is Nov. 8, 2007.  Which just happens to be while I am in school in Louisville.  I can not miss one class session or I will be delayed a whole year.  So we are going to see if the doctor can speed up things a few days, so I won’t miss my kid’s birth.

This will be the site for pictures and correspondence for the baby.  The old website: www.home.fuse.net/shanegarrison01 is impossible to remember and difficult to update.  So we will use the blog exclusively. 

We have a few names picked out so far for both genders.  Oddly, our girl name from last time has been taken off the block even though we didn’t use it.  We will not be posting the official name until he/she comes.

 Keep checking the blog.  We will post the ultrasound pic at 20 weeks.

shane

Signs of the Resurrection

While driving into work today, I was listening to Dr. David Jeremiah give “signs” of the resurrection.  Here is his abbreviated list, with a few additions of my own.

Sign 1 – The Soldiers set guard but saw the empty tomb.  They got a bride by the religious leaders to give false testimony.

Sign 2 – The Seal was broken by the angels.  Any man would have known he was taking his own life by breaking a Roman seal.

Sign 3 – The Stone was moved completely away.

Sign 4 – The Sepulcher was empty.  If they disciples went to the wrong one, the body of Jesus could easily been brought out for show.

Sign 5 – The Sightings of Jesus by numerous people including the woman, the men on the road to Emmaus, the disciples and 500 others.

Sign 6 – The Significant change of the disciples – before defeated, now empowered.

Great sermon and some good reflection on the proofs of the resurrection.